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Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing

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Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Lucas Learning
Publisher(s)LucasArts
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA:April 25, 2001
  • EU:May 25, 2001
Genre(s)Kart racing game,vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single player,multiplayer

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racingis both aracing video gameandvehicular combat gamewith characters fromStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,Star Wars,andReturn of the Jedi.The playable characters are portrayed in asuper deformedstyle (featuring unusually large heads and small bodies). This game is available onPlayStation 2only, as theDreamcast,Windows,andMac OSversions were cancelled due to poor sales of the PlayStation 2 version.

Gameplay

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Super Bombad Racingfeatures characters and locales fromStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racingis akart racing game.Players select one of variousStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacecharacters to compete on various courses patterned after the film. Each course also features a reversed, mirrored variant.Boba FettandDarth Vaderappear as unlockable guest characters. Races are conducted with eight competitors and consist of three laps. Powerups are littered throughout each course, and each provides the player character with varying temporary attributes, such as a boost in speed, a shield, or offensive weaponry.[1]Up to four players can join in splitscreen play using the PlayStation 2multitapperipheral.[2]

A variant on the standard race mode, known as "Teams", limits the race to four competitors, each split into teams of two. An Arena mode is also included. Here the player controls their character in a vehicular combat scenario. Powerups from the racing modes are used, but instead of navigating a race course the objective is to eliminate enemy characters and be the last character standing. Nine race courses and four arenas are available to choose from.[1]

Development and marketing

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The game was developed byLucasArtssubsidiaryLucas Learningas its first entertainment-only title, and was the final title developed under that brand.[3][4]The concept for the game was created by Lucas Learning, and the decision was made for them to serve as developer and publisher for the title.[5]Development took close to two years, and at its peak consisted of over 20 people.[6]The music was composed byPeter McConnell,and features cartoon-like, satirical renditions ofJohn Williams'Star Warsscore.[7]McConnell had previously worked on soundtracks for otherLucasArtsgames such asGrim FandangoandFull Throttle.Some actors from the films reprise their roles in the game.Jake LloydvoicesAnakin Skywalker,Ahmed Bestreturns asJar Jar Binks,andLewis MacLeodagain voicesSebulba.Grey Griffin,Tom KaneandKevin Michael Richardsonare among the voice actors used to voice double the remaining characters.[8]Lucas Learning utilizedRenderWarefromCriterion Softwareas the engine to powerSuper Bombad Racing.[9]

In early May 2000, leaked information revealedStar Wars: Super Bombad Racingwas in development.[10]It was officially unveiled atE32000.[3]The game was later promoted at theSony MetreoninSan Francisco, Californiain April 2001. Copies of the game signed byGeorge Lucaswere raffled away.[11]It was released in North America on April 25, 2001[12]and in Europe on May 25.Super Bombad Racingis a PlayStation 2 exclusive. Additional releases were planned for theSegaDreamcast,Windows,andMac OS.[6]These were cancelled due to poor sales.[13][14]

Reception

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The game received "mixed or average" reviews according to thereview aggregationwebsiteMetacritic.[15]Some praised the game, calling it an accomplished kart racer and a welcome addition to the then-short list of PlayStation 2 titles. Others, however, felt that while the game was mechanically sound, theStar Warssetting and appearance felt "tacked on" and therefore a dirty ploy to make money for LucasArts. Others roundly criticized the game, both for turningStar Warsinto a childish kart racer and for simply making a bad game. Shahed Ahmed ofGameSpotsaid that the game introduced a few clever concepts, but was critical of the length and flaws relating to the gameplay.[21]Uncle Dust ofGameProsaid that the game "offers enough challenge and replay value to be a good party game for youngerStar Warsfans. "[27][b]However, Jeff Lundrigan ofNextGensaid of the game in its negative review, "We've said it before, but the world really doesnot needanother licensed kart racing game. "[24]

Retrospective opinions on the game were sometimes more critical.GamesRadar+'s Henry Gilbert includedSuper Bombad Racingin a list of "The most forgettable kart racers ever released".[28]In contrast theIGNstaff included it in a list of "The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever".[29]It also appeared inGame Informer's list of "The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games".[30]They also listed is as the 2nd worstStar Warsgame in 2015.[31]

Notes

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  1. ^Three critics ofElectronic Gaming Monthlygave the game each a score of 2.5/10, 4/10, and 4.5/10.
  2. ^GameProgave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4.5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for control.

References

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  1. ^abcSmith, David (April 23, 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  2. ^Adams, Dan (May 18, 2000)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 1)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  3. ^abGantayat, Anoop (May 22, 2000)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 2)".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  4. ^Macworld staff (June 19, 2001)."Lucas Learning axes Mac game, exits consumer market".Macworld.IDG.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  5. ^Griffin, Josh (November 2, 2000)."An Interview with Todd Reamon[,] Lead Artist at Lucas Learning".TheForce.net.Archivedfrom the original on October 2, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  6. ^ab"Bombad Racing Interview: Page One".The International House of Mojo.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  7. ^"Profile".Peter McConnell.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2023.
  8. ^"Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Video Game 2001) - Full Cast & Crew".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  9. ^Star Wars: Super Bombad Racingbox art
  10. ^Perry, Douglass C. (May 2, 2000)."Two PS2 Star Wars Games Unveiled".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  11. ^IGN staff (April 17, 2001)."Super Bombad Racing at the Sony Metreon".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2020.RetrievedJune 3,2023.
  12. ^IGN staff (April 18, 2001)."Release Date Set for Super Bombad Racing".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  13. ^Chau, Anthony (January 11, 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Cancelled".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  14. ^Walker, Trey (June 20, 2001)."Cancelled: Super Bombad Racing for the PC [date mislabeled as" June 21, 2001 "]".GameSpot.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on November 9, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.No old archived link for the article that has the correct date exists; the correct date is only shown in this linkhere.
  15. ^ab"Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing".Metacritic.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  16. ^Terwilliger, Todd."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing - Review".AllGame.All Media Network.Archived fromthe originalon November 20, 2014.RetrievedNovember 20,2014.
  17. ^Sewart, Greg; Boyer, Crsipin; Kujawa, Kraig (June 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing"(PDF).Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 142. Ziff Davis. p. 109.Archived(PDF)from the original on April 15, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  18. ^MacIsaac, Jason (May 7, 2001)."[Star Wars:] Super Bombad Racing".The Electric Playground.Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2003.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  19. ^Reiner, Andrew (May 2001)."Star Wars Super Bombad Racing".Game Informer.No. 97.FuncoLand.Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2008.RetrievedAugust 17,2014.
  20. ^G-Wok (April 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Review".GameRevolution.CraveOnline.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  21. ^abAhmed, Shahed (April 25, 2001)."[Star Wars:] Super Bombad Racing Review".GameSpot.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on April 10, 2016.RetrievedJune 3,2023.
  22. ^Thornton, Benjaman (May 4, 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racer".PlanetPS2.GameSpy Industries. Archived fromthe originalon May 6, 2001.RetrievedAugust 17,2014.
  23. ^The Badger (April 24, 2001)."Star Wars Super Bombad Racing [score mislabeled as" 8.8/10 "]".GameZone.Archived fromthe originalon February 24, 2004.RetrievedAugust 17,2014.
  24. ^abLundrigan, Jeff (July 2001)."Star Wars Super Bombad Racing".NextGen.No. 79.Imagine Media.p. 83.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  25. ^Davison, John (June 2001)."Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing".Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.No. 45. Ziff Davis. pp. 98–99.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  26. ^Weigel, Ray (May 4, 2001)."Star Wars Super Bombad Racing (PS2) - Review".Extended Play.TechTV.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2001.RetrievedAugust 17,2014.
  27. ^Uncle Dust (June 2001)."Star Wars Super Bombad Racing"(PDF).GamePro.No. 153. IDG. p. 105.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2005.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  28. ^Gilbert, Henry (May 28, 2014)."The most forgettable kart racers ever released".GamesRadar+.Future plc.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  29. ^Altano, Brian; Ryan, Jon; Scoville, Max (November 18, 2019)."The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  30. ^Gwaltney, Javy (January 17, 2016)."The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games".Game Informer.GameStop.Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  31. ^Gwaltney, Javy (December 19, 2015)."A Disturbance In The Force: The 10 Worst Star Wars Games".Game Informer.GameStop. Archived fromthe originalon December 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
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